No help: Poyet was not given the support he needed from the board (Image: Laurence Griffiths)

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At the same stage last season, Sunderland were cut adrift from safety and odds-on to be relegated.

Sunderland were second from bottom, four points from safety, running out of luck and Gus Poyet needed a miracle.

But that’s exactly what Poyet got as somehow Sunderland pulled off one of the great escape acts of the Premier League era.

It’s easy to forget that they are in better shape now as they are not in the relegation zone but Poyet has paid the ultimate price after being sacked after their humiliating 4-0 home defeat to Aston Villa.

No-one can pretend results have been anything but disappointing. They’re on a bad run. But did people really think last season’s miracle escape would mean they would finish mid-table this year? That would be a complete fantasy.

Clearly, Poyet is a demanding manager. But he was also left hugely frustrated because it was clear they needed major surgery last summer - and yet it didn’t happen.